Ramadan in History- Part 1

by Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick

Oh you who believe, Ramadan is a sacred month wherein Almighty Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is constantly testing His creation and giving humanity the opportunity to achieve infinite, endless Bliss. Fasting is a complete purification and a means to developing the consciousness of Allah’s (subhanahu wa ta’ala) presence. The consciousness of Allah (subhanahu wata’ala), Taqwa, is a protection against the schemes of Shaitan, and the suffering of this world. Allah (subhanahuwa ta’ala) has informed us that, “Whoever keeps his duty to Allah (has taqwa), He ordains a way out for him and gives him sustenance from where he imagines not. And whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allah attains His purpose. Allah has appointed a measure for everything.” (65:2)

Many Muslims today have a misconception about fasting and the activities of a fasting person. They go into a state of semi-hibernation, spending most of their daylight hours in bed. If they fear Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), they wake up for prayer, but then return to sleep immediately. This unnatural sleep makes them become lazy, dull witted and often cranky.

Ramadan is actually a time of increased activity wherein the believer, now lightened of the burdens of constant eating and drinking, should be more willing to strive and struggle for Allah(subhanahuwa ta’ala). The Prophet (May the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) passed through approximately nine Ramadans after the Hijrah. They were filled with decisive events and left us a shining example of sacrifice and submission to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

In the first year after the Hijrah, the Prophet (may the Blessing and Peace of Allah be upon him) sent Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib with thirty Muslim riders to Saif al Bahr to investigate three hundred riders from Quraish who had camped auspiciously in that area. The Muslims were about to engage the disbelievers, but they were separated by Majdy ibn Umar al-Juhany.

The Hypocrites of Al-Madinah, hoping to oppose the unity of the Muslims, built their own masjid (called Masjid al-Diraar). The Prophet (may the Blessing and Peace of Allah be upon him) ordered this masjid to be destroyed in Ramadan.

On the seventeenth of Ramadan, 3 A.H., Almighty Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) separated truth from falsehood at the Great Battle of Badr. The Prophet (may the Blessing and Peace of Allah be upon him) and 313 of his companions set out to intercept a caravan of their own goods that had been left in Makkah. It was led by Abu Sufyan, himself, and estimated at 60,000 dinars. They were met, instead, by a well equipped army of the nobility of Quraish, intent on putting out the light of Islam. Despite being outnumbered three to one and appearing weak and unseasoned, the Muslims defended their faith with a burning desire to protect the Prophet and meet their Lord through martyrdom. Allah (subhanahuwa ta’aala) gave them a decisive victory on this day of Ramadan, that would never be forgotten.

Taken from Benefit of the Day- Ramadan 1429